Visakhapatnam, July 30: The Struggle Committee Against Caste Discrimination, staged a dharna at the Collectorate here on Monday demanding the arrest of those responsible for the continuing social boycott at Vaarada village in K Kotapadu mandal of the district. The protesters raised slogans calling for the lifting of the social boycott against Dalits, rehabilitation for those Dalits, who removed from work by the village rich. They also condemned the apathy of the police in the matter of arresting those responsible for the boycott.

Speaking on the occasion, Committee district secretary M Chanti said though complaints were lodged with the police about the ostracism in force in the village for the last three months, no suitable action was taken so far.

He said a three-member Indian Lawyers' Union team had visited the village on a fact-finding mission and after speaking to a cross-section of people confirmed that the social boycott was in force.

"The district Collector had also warned the perpetrators of serious action but nothing has changed. Till date, the administration has not taken concrete steps to help the Dalits. Instead of protecting the rights of the underprivileged, the district administration is supporting the village rich,'' he stated.

Several other speakers deplored the inaction of the police and administration and said the Committee would continue the agitation till justice was done to the Dalits. CPM leader M V S Sarma, Rythu Sangham district secretary A Balakrishna were also present.